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What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

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Monday, August 20, 2007

First Day of School - 6th Grade Edition

Too many lazy days at home, with no schedule, meals whenever you want them, heck, you can even go pee when you need to at home. But, at school, schedules prevail, you eat when told and pee when told. But, the main thing at home that he loves is time with Mom. He's my buddy as you can tell if you've read this blog very long. We do every thing together. Perhaps too much. One day last year he asked me wht I do when he is at school. I told him the usual, landry, grocery shopping, etc. I asked him why he asked and he said he worries about me and that he should be here to help me. I told him that his job is to be a KID and go to school and learn and have fun and not to worry about Mom.

Words escape me when I try to tell you what a sweet boy this child is - his teachers are always amazed that a boy can be so polite and thoughtful. I know a lot of boys are polite and thoughtful. But, my boy is extaordinary in these matters. He's the last one out to door at school because he hleps the girls with their backpacks, picks up every bit of paper and crayons on the floor and hold the door open for the kids behind him. I know it is esy for an parent to make these comments and expect you to believe them. But, I need you to understand that this boy is special and unique.

I've often wondered if I should have put him in daycare or an after school program to partially break his parental bonds. But, even if that would have made the first few days of school go smoothly, what would that have done to his personality? Would he still be such a sweet wondrufl boy? Would he still hold my hand and call me his "Pretty Mama"? That isn't something I am willing to risk.

This is the year I have been dreading. Of course, I say that nearly every year. Big changes every year. But, luckily, he's still my boy.

The first day of school is never easy on him, or me, for that matter. ,

This year is 6th Grade. He'll be 12 on September 6th.

That's almost a teenager.

Oh My God.

A year from Junior High. Of corse, they don't really have Junior High anymore.

I am very involved in school, thousands of hours volunteering, plus years as a Substitute Teacher to boot, so I know all the kids. And, I do mean all the kids. So, this year at Open House, I see that almost all the boys and girls have sprung up a couple inches since last year. Some of the boys greeted me with "Hello, Miss Shara" and it was two or three octaves lower than last year.

Oh My God.

And the girls! Let's talk about the girls for a minute. They have, well, boobs. And they are cheerleaders wearing itty bitty short skirts. And they wear mascara and body glitter and cotton candy lipgloss and they sitthisclose to my baby boy. But, he still likes Hot Wheel Cars and Transformers and his pig Beanie Baby. But, he also has an inordinant interest in looking at Miley Cuyrus/Hannah Montanna. And he turns red when I mention his little friend, Susan. And, lately, he wants his skivies to color match his clothes.I think we are about to cross a line.

Oh My God.

The teachers warned me that halfway through 6th grade, some of the girls get stuck up and the boys go completely girl crazy. Not my kids! Not my babies! Surely NOT! I will say that I got a LOT more hugs from the boys last year. And they aren't exactly eye level with me yet, if you get my, oh so, subtle drift.

Oh My God.

He'll be driving in two years.

Graduating in six years.

Making me a Grandma someday. A GRANDMA, I said.

Oh My God.

I think I will pick him up after school and take him shopping for some new Hot Wheels.

7 comments:

Oh, Shara!!! I remember the panic days. Becky is 22 now and for the moment, everything is fine. But there were some panic (me) times for sure. When she started driving to school, I would sit at my desk at work and be physically sick to my stomach from about 8-8:30 and 3-4 or so. This lasted for about a month. I worry that she doesn't have a boyfriend and seems perfectly happy to be with Jack (DH) and me. She is an only child like your son, and I do think that they are often very attached to us. I think your feelings are perfectly normal and he sounds like a wonderful son. He should make a wonderful husband and father some day since he is so thoughtful and helpful. He must have been taught well.

You are raising a gentleman, rare these days but it shouldn't be. It should be the norm, not the exception. You have done your job, I know it's not over yet, but you have obviously taught him well and he will remember it. He'll have his teenage moments, they all do and we can't escape them. But with the good grounding he has, the moments will probably be few and far between! You are right to be proud of him. And no, there will never be a girl good enough for him!

You are so lucky to have that special relationship with your son. Cherish it. He is becoming quite the young man. Is that the beginnings of a moustache I see? Oh my goodness! You are in for so much fun...I envy you! Jan

What a sweet post!! He sounds like an awesome young man:):) I have a sweet boy at church that I taught when he was 11 - he's 14 now and towers over me....but he still hugs be everytime I see him and can't wait to say "HI Sister D" everytime he sees me. I imagine your son is one of these sweet souls too:)

I love my comments. I'd love to respond to everyone, but if you don't have an email address tied to your ID, please sign your name so I will know who you are! It makes it nice to know who is saying what. Now, leave a comment! Please? ;o)

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I am the curator or a small house crammed to the rafters with vintage goodness. I love finding old stuff, making it new again and reselling it in my flea market booth. Mostly, I like to keep it! :) BUT! More than all that - I love where I live in NW Arkansas. Beautiful country with lots of great things to see and do. Sometime it's about the junk. Sometimes it's about the journey.

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